This antiquarian book contains Edith Wharton's first serious novel, "The Valley of Decision". Within this text Wharton juxtaposes characters inspired by the anti-religious writings of Voltaire and Rousseau with the orthodox leaders of the day. As in many of Wharton's writings, it becomes evident that violation of societal conventions comes at a great personal cost. This seminal piece of literature would make for a worthy addition to any bookshelf, and is a must-have for fans and collectors of Wharton's work. Edith Wharton (1862 - 1937) was an American novelist and short story writer who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature numerous times. The chapters of this book include: "The Old Order", "The New Light", "The Choice", and "The Reward". Wharton was famous for combing her inside view of America's upper classes with her fabulous wit to construct amusing novels and short stories of social and psychological exploration - and we are proud to republish this vintage classic. It comes in an affordable, modern edition, complete with a specially commissioned new biography of the author.